New York man arrested in connection with Stockbridge bank robbery

STOCKBRIDGE - A Hillsdale, N.Y. man is in custody as a suspect in the robbery of a Stockbridge bank after he was apprehended by New York State police Monday night when they spotted him driving a truck that matched the description of the vehicle seen fleeing the bank three hours earlier, police said.

Christopher G. Blair, 34, was stopped Monday night at about 6:45 p.m. on Anthony Street in Hillsdale after a New York state trooper spotted his truck, a late model blue Chevrolet pickup with a green cap, and noticed it matched a description of the vehicle broadcast following the robbery of Lee Bank, 3 Elm St., Stockbridge, just before 4 p.m., police said.

Blair also matched the description of the suspect in the robbery, police said. He was taken into custody as a fugitive from justice and Stockbridge police were contacted, police said.

Stockbridge police and the Massachusetts State Police have since obtained an arrest warrant for Blair in connection with unarmed robbery, larceny, and assault and battery charges.

At his arraignment Tuesday on the fugitive charge in Livingston, N.Y., court, Judge Robert Moore ordered Blair to be held without the right to bail while he awaits extradition back to Massachusetts to face charges in connection with the robbery.